Arrival at Zanzibar—The British consul—Threatening attitude of the inhabitants—The island of Koumbeni—The rain-makers—Inflation of the balloon—Departure on the 8th April—Final farewells—The Victoria

A CONSTANTLY FAVOURABLE wind had hastened the progress of the Resolute towards her destination. The navigation of the Mozambique Channel was performed in particularly calm conditions. The sea-journey augured well for the journey by air. Everyone was looking forward to the arrival and to giving the final touches to Dr Fergusson's preparations. At last the ship came in sight of the town of Zanzibar, which is situated on the island of the same name, and at 11 a.m. on the 15th of April she dropped anchor in the harbour.

The island of Zanzibar belongs to the Imam of Muscat, an ally of France and England, and is beyond doubt his finest colony. The harbour is used by a large number of ships from neighbouring countries. The island is separated from the African coast by a channel which is not more than thirty miles wide at its widest point. Zanzibar carries on a large trade in gum, ivory, and especially ebony, for the town is the great slave-market where all the booty captured in the wars in which the chiefs of the interior are constantly engaged is collected. This traffic also extends over the whole east coast as far north as the Nile, and Monsieur G. Lejean has seen the trade openly carried on under the French flag.

The moment the Resolute arrived, the British consul at Zanzibar came on board to place himself at the disposal of the doctor, of whose plans he had been informed through the European newspapers of the month before. Up to this time, however, he belonged to the large army of sceptics.

'I had doubts,' he said, as he shook hands with Samuel Fergusson, 'but now I'm convinced.'

He offered the hospitality of his own house to the doctor, Dick Kennedy, and, of course, the worthy Joe. Through him the doctor was able to acquaint himself with the letters received from Captain Speke. The latter and his companions had suffered terribly from hunger and bad weather before reaching Ugogo. They were only advancing with extreme difficulty and did not think that they would be able to send any more news through for some time.

'These are the dangers and trials we intend to avoid,' said the doctor.

The baggage of the three travellers was transferred to the consul's house and preparations were made for unshipping the balloon on to the beach of Zanzibar. There was a favourable site near the signalling mast, adjoining an enormous erection which would have protected it against the east wind. This great tower, shaped like a barrel standing on end, and beside which the Heidelberg tun would have looked like a mere cask, was used as a fort, and on its platform Beloutchis, armed with lances, were lounging about like a collection of chattering loafers.

When it came to unshipping the balloon, however, the consul was warned that the population of the island would oppose this by force. There is nothing blinder than the rage of fanatics. The news of the arrival of a Christian who was to rise into the air was received with fury. The negroes, who were more excited than the Arabs, regarded the project as an attack on their religion. They imagined that it was an attempt against the sun and moon. These two astral bodies are objects of worship in Africa, so it was resolved to oppose such a sacrilegious expedition.

Hearing of this attitude, the consul discussed the situation with Dr Fergusson and Captain Pennet. The latter had no intention of giving way to threats, but his friend persuaded him to listen to reason.

'We shall, of course, get the better of them in the end,' he told him. 'The Imam's garrison would even come to our assistance at a pinch. But, my dear captain, an accident might easily happen. It would not require much to do an irreparable injury to my balloon, and then the trip would be hopelessly compromised. So we must act with great caution.'

'But what can we do? If we land on the African coast, we shall come up against the same difficulties. What are we to do about it?'

'Nothing could be simpler,' the consul replied. 'Look at those islands the other side of the harbour. Land your balloon on one of those, surround yourselves with a cordon of sailors, and you'll run no risks.'

'Splendid,' said the doctor, 'and we'll be able to get on with our preparations undisturbed.'

The captain gave in to this advice and the Resolute headed for the island of Koumbeni. During the morning of the 16th of April the balloon was safely placed in the middle of a clearing of the great woods that cover the island. Two masts eighty feet high were erected eighty feet apart. A combination of pulleys fitted to the ends of these enabled the balloon to be lifted by means of a cross-rope. It was completely deflated. The inner balloon was attached to the top of the outer so that it would be lifted at the same time. To the lower extremity of each balloon were fitted the two pipes for supplying the hydrogen.

The day of the 17th was spent in setting up the apparatus for producing the gas. This consisted of thirty casks in which the sulphuric acid, diluted with water, was decomposed by means of iron. The hydrogen, having been washed on the way, passed into a huge central cask and then through the pipes into the two balloons. In this way each balloon received the exact amount of gas required. The operation consumed 1,866 gallons of sulphuric acid, 16,050 lbs of iron and 966 gallons of water.

The work was begun during the following night, at about 3 a.m., and lasted about eight hours. In the morning the balloon, in its net, was swaying gracefully above the car, which was held down by a large number of sacks filled with earth. The expansion apparatus was mounted with great care, and the pipes projecting from the balloon were fixed to the cylinder. Anchors, ropes, instruments, rugs, tent, guns, all had to be stowed in their appointed places in the car. The supply of water was brought from Zanzibar. The 200 lbs of ballast were divided into fifty bags and placed in the bottom of the car, but within easy reach.

These preparations lasted until 5 p.m., and meanwhile sentries kept a constant look-out round the island, and the Resolute 's boats patrolled the channel. The negroes continued to give vent to their anger by means of yells, grimaces and contortions. The witch-doctors dashed about between the various groups, inflaming their excitement, and a few fanatics attempted to swim out to the island but were easily driven back. Then the witchdoctors, the 'rain-makers,' who claim to control the clouds, summoned the hurricanes and 'stone showers' (hail) to their aid. To do this they gathered leaves from all the different species of trees that grow in the country, boiled them over a slow fire, and meanwhile slaughtered a sheep by driving a long needle into its heart. But in spite of these rites the sky remained clear and the sheep and grimaces were wasted.

The negroes now abandoned themselves to frenzied orgies, making themselves drunk with 'tembo,' a potent liquor drawn from the coconut palm, or with a very strong beer called 'togwa.' Their singing, devoid of any distinguishable melody, but with a very regular rhythm, continued far into the night.

About six in the evening the travellers assembled at a farewell dinner given by the captain and his officers. Kennedy, whom they had given up questioning, was heard to mutter a few words, but no one caught what he said. He never took his eyes off the doctor. Altogether this was a gloomy meal. The imminence of the supreme moment filled the minds of all with anxious thoughts. What had fate in store for these bold venturers? Would they ever be restored to the circle of their friends? Would they ever again sit at their own firesides? If their means of transport happened to fail them, what would become of them among these savage races, in these unexplored regions, in the heart of these vast wastes? Such were the thoughts, hitherto only transient and little heeded, that invaded their over-excited imaginations. Dr Fergusson, still as cool and impassive as ever, chatted about one thing and another, but it was in vain that he tried to drive off this infectious depression: he met with no success.

As there was fear of some sort of demonstration against the persons of the doctor and his companions, they all three slept aboard the Resolute. At 6 a.m. they left their cabins and made for the island of Koumbeni. The balloon was gently swaying to the east wind. The sacks of earth which held it down were replaced by a score of sailors. Captain Pennet and his officers had come to watch the solemn departure. Just at this moment Kennedy went straight up to the doctor, took his hand and said:

'It's settled that I'm coming, Samuel?'

'Quite settled, old man.'

'I've done all in my power to stop this expedition?'

'Everything.'

'Then I have an easy conscience as far as that's concerned, and I'm coming with you.'

'I knew you would,' the doctor answered, an expression of emotion passing rapidly over his face.

The moment for the final farewells had arrived. The captain and his officers warmly shook hands with their intrepid friends, not forgetting the worthy Joe, who was full of pride and delight. All present were anxious to grip the doctor's hand.

At 9 a.m. the three men took their places in the car. The doctor lit his burner and forced the flame so as to produce heat rapidly. A few minutes later the balloon, which was hovering over the ground in perfect equilibrium, began to rise. The sailors had to pay out the ropes that were holding her. The car rose about twenty feet.

'My friends,' shouted the doctor, standing up between his two companions and raising his hat, 'let us christen our airship by a name that will bring her luck; let us call her the Victoria !'

A tremendous cheer went up: 'Long live the Queen! Hurrah for England!'

At this moment the lifting force of the balloon increased enormously. Fergusson, Kennedy and Joe called a last farewell to their friends.

'Let go!' cried the doctor. And the Victoria rose rapidly into the air, while the four guns of the Resolute thundered in her honour. FKyy4zdzXRu8QgXblTyeIAn2xcrjqriV+FjI6mRHv1RkYEgMF0nMPq+wfK+ZfwpK